Noticeboard

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME! We are registering new patients. If you live out of our catchment area you may still be able to register as an Out of Area Patient if you do not expect to need home visits. Out of Area patients need to call 111 to arrange visits as they are not provided by the practice.

MAGAZINES - REALLY SHORT OF THESE AGAIN (Aug 19)!! If you have anything suitable that you are willing to donate please drop them off for us. Thank you!

OUT OF HOURS - CALL 111 if you need medical advice or assistance anytime the practice is closed. All calls are free to this number. CALL 999 immediately if the problem may be life threatening at anytime.

PRIVATE WORK - Please note that anything that is not NHS contracted work can take up to four weeks to complete as the doctors must give priority to all NHS work. This includes some forms that are required for the Council. Fees are charged where appropriate for private work. If you do need something done please contact the Patient Services team to find about about the charges. A GP appointment is NOT needed if you need to have forms or reports done. Charges can be paid by card over the phone and must be paid before the work is undertaken.

Your Test Results

Please call after 1.30pm to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request .

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice. It is normally at least one week from the day of the test.

It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if your are advised to do so.

Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

assess your general state of health

confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection

see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm, and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. We do not take blood samples from children who are under 12 years old. This will need to book through an appointment at the hospital (reception can provide this number). You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

X-Ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.